Stratford-upon-Avon and Hampton Lucy Peculiars

Wills, administrations and inventories proved and exhibited in the peculairs of Stratford-upon-Avon and Hampton Lucy.

DR148/1: wills and administrations of the Peculiar jurisdiction of Stratford-upon-Avon, 1685-1849

DR148/2: wills and administrations of the Peculiar jurisdiction of Hampton Lucy, 1675-1795

<span class="wrapper"><p>The Corporation of Stratford were responsible for the payment of the Vicar's stipend, and certain of the peculiar records came into their custody as a result:</p> <p>BRT3/1: original wills and inventories, 1557-1727</p> <p>BRT3/2: volume containing copies of 122 wills in chronological order of probate, and 93 copies of administrations, 1658-1698, the originals of many of which are contained in DR148/1</p></span>

• <corpname>Stratford-upon-Avon Peculiar</corpname>
• <corpname>Hampton Lucy Peculiar</corpname>

Transferred from the District Probate Registry, Birmingham, in 1959

Peculiar jurisdictions were independent of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Bishop for two years out of three. In the parish of Stratford-upon-Avon, before the Reformation, the Warden of the College was entitled to hold a 'peculiar' court concerning spiritual matters, including the proving of wills. Under the charter of 1553 this privilege was granted to the Vicar, whose stipend was paid by the Corporation.

The rector of Hampton Lucy too formerly had a peculiar jurisdiction, first mentioned in 1593, which included the neighbouring parishes of Charlecote, Alveston and Wasperton.

Both peculiars lost the right to prove wills in 1858, with the introduction of centralised probate.